Clinical characteristics of severe pre-eclampsia in a single tertiary referral center of Xiamen City / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective: To explore the key points for preventing and reducing severe pre-eclampsia (SPE) and its severe complications in the tertiary medical referral system of a second-tier city by analyzing the clinical characteristics of SPE. Methods: The clinical data of 341 patients with SPE who terminated pregnancy in Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and the pre-eclampsia (PE) risk factors, clinical characteristics and severe complications of SPE between the patients referred from primary hospitals (referral group) and the patients received regular prenatal care in the tertiary referral center (central group) were compared, as well as the influence of the referral timing on the maternal and perinatal outcomes. Results: Among the 341 cases of SPE, 92 cases were in the referral group and 249 cases were in the central group. (1) Analysis of PE risk factors: there was no statistical difference in the proportion of risk factors of PE between these two groups [75.0% (69/92) vs 71.9% (179/249); χ2=0.328, P=0.567]. (2) Analysis of clinical features: the gestational ages at the PE early warning factors onset, at the PE first symptom onset and at SPE diagnosed, pregnancy terminated and onset of SPE severe complications in the referral group were significantly earlier than those in the central group (all P<0.05), the proportions of terminating pregnancy before 32 weeks of gestation, between 32 and 34 weeks of gestation, intensive care unit (ICU), neonatal ICU hospitalization and fetal growth restriction in single pregnancies were higher than those in the central group, while the live birth rate was lower than that in the central group (all P<0.05). (3) Analysis of SPE severe complications: the rates of SPE severe complications in the referral group was higher than that in the central group [28.3% (26/92) vs 13.7% (34/249); χ2=9.885, P=0.002]. Among them, the rates of placental abruption [7.6% (7/92) vs 2.8% (7/249); χ2=3.927, P=0.048] and still birth [6.5% (6/92) vs 0.4% (1/249); χ2=9.656, P=0.002] in the referral group were significantly higher than those in the central group. (4) Analysis of referral timings: the timings included referral after onset of SPE severe complications (9.8%, 9/92), referral after SPE diagnosed (63.0%, 58/92), referral after detection of SPE early warning signs (20.7%, 19/92) and referral after detection of PE risk factors (6.5%, 6/92). The gestational ages at SPE diagnosed and pregnancy terminated in group of referral after onset of SPE severe complications and group of referral after SPE diagnosed were significantly earlier than those in group of referral after detection of PE early warning signs and group of referral after detection of PE risk factors (P<0.05). The earlier the referral, the higher the live birth rates (P<0.05). Conclusions: The tertiary referral center of the second-tier city plays an important role in reducing the maternal and perinatal damage of PE. The timing of referral in primary medical institutions is the key point of reducing the occurrence of SPE severe complications and maternal, perinatal damage of PE. It is necessary for medical institutions of all levels in all regions to improve the ability of early identification and early intervention for PE, to enhance the awareness of SPE and its severe complications prevention and control. Primary medical institutions should especially pay attention to raise the consciousness of PE risk factors and early warning signs, and to improve the ability of PE risk factors and early warning signs screening.

Effect of down-regulation of sex determining region Y-box 9 on epithelial mesenchymal transition and cloning of oral squamous carcinoma cells / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of sex determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9) on epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cloning of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).@*METHODS@#siRNA control, SOX9 siRNA were transfected into BcaCD885 cells in OSCC. Simultaneously, cells that did not undergo transfection were used as the control. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to select SOX9 siRNA1 with enhanced interference effect. A cell cloning assay was used to determine the cell's clone formation ability. E-cadherin and Vimentin expressions were detected by immunofluorescence. The expressions of E-cadherin, matrix metalloprotease 2 (MMP-2), Vimentin and matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) were detected by Western blot. Cell invasion and migration were detected in the Transwell compartment.@*RESULTS@#The levels of SOX9 mRNA and protein in SOX9 siRNA cells were significantly lower than those of the control (P<0.05). An increase in the number of SOX9 siRNA1 cell clonesled to the considerable decrease of the number of cell invasion and migration. In addition, levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins in cells decreased significantly compared with the control (P<0.05). The level of Vimentin expression in SOX9 siRNA1 cells decreased, and expression level of E-cadherin was elevated. Cell EMT was inhibited compared with the control, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Down-regulation of SOX9 inhibited EMT, clonogenic formation, cell invasion and OSCC migration.

Meta-analysis for Clinical Efficacy of Ivabradine Treating the Patients With Chronic Heart Failure / 中国循环杂志

Objective: To systemically evaluate clinical efficacy of ivabradine (IVA) treating the patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: We searched PubMed, Conchrane Library, EMbase, CBM, CNKI and Wanfang database to enroll the random control trials of IVA treating CHF up to 2016-10. Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.2 software. Results: A total of 12 English literature were finally enrolled which including 2 groups: IVA group, n=807 and Control group, n=800. Meta-analysis showed that compared with Control group, IVA group had increased LVEF (MD=2.68, 95％CI 1.85-3.50, P<0.00001), decreased left ventricular end-diastolic volume (MD=-5.78, 95％ CI -9.79 to -1.76, P=0.005), decreased left ventricular end-systolic volume (MD=-8.91, 95％ CI -11.23 to -6.59, P<0.00001) and reduced N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (MD=-109.22, 95％ CI -126.42 to -92.01, P<0.00001); while systolic blood pressure (MD=6.02, 95％CI -0.80 to 12.84, P=0.08) and diastolic blood pressure (MD=3.6495％ CI -0.48 to 7.77, P=0.08) were similar between 2 groups. Conclusion: IVA improved ventricular remodeling in CHF patients and had no obvious effect on blood pressure. The long-term effect and safety of IVA should be further confirmed by high quality random control trial and the result from evidence-based medicine.

Meta-analysis for Clinical Efficacy of Ivabradine Treating the Patients With Chronic Heart Failure / 中国循环杂志

Objective: To systemically evaluate clinical efficacy of ivabradine (IVA) treating the patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: We searched PubMed, Conchrane Library, EMbase, CBM, CNKI and Wanfang database to enroll the random control trials of IVA treating CHF up to 2016-10. Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.2 software. Results: A total of 12 English literature were finally enrolled which including 2 groups: IVA group, n=807 and Control group, n=800. Meta-analysis showed that compared with Control group, IVA group had increased LVEF (MD=2.68, 95％CI 1.85-3.50, P<0.00001), decreased left ventricular end-diastolic volume (MD=-5.78, 95％ CI -9.79 to -1.76, P=0.005), decreased left ventricular end-systolic volume (MD=-8.91, 95％ CI -11.23 to -6.59, P<0.00001) and reduced N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (MD=-109.22, 95％ CI -126.42 to -92.01, P<0.00001); while systolic blood pressure (MD=6.02, 95％CI -0.80 to 12.84, P=0.08) and diastolic blood pressure (MD=3.6495％ CI -0.48 to 7.77, P=0.08) were similar between 2 groups. Conclusion: IVA improved ventricular remodeling in CHF patients and had no obvious effect on blood pressure. The long-term effect and safety of IVA should be further confirmed by high quality random control trial and the result from evidence-based medicine.

High fractional exhaled nitric oxide may predict response to inhaled corticosteroid therapy in patients with subacute cough / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) level in patients with subacute cough and its value in predicting the patients' response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 100 patients with persistent cough lasting more than 3 weeks were enrolled, including 52 patients with subacute cough and 48 with chronic cough. FENO, spirometry, and responses to ICS therapy of the patients were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The recruited patients had a median (inter-quartile ranges) FENO level of 19 ppb (12-30 ppb). Patients with chronic cough had a significantly higher median FENO level than those with subacute cough (20.5 vs 16 ppb; Z=-2.245, P=0.025). A FENO level ≥25 ppb was recorded in 15 (28.8%) patients with subacute cough, as compared with 20 (41.6%) in patients with chronic cough (χ(2)=1.801, P=0.179). With a FENO ≥25 ppb as the critical value to justify ICS treatment, 15 patients with subacute cough received ICS and 14 (93.3%) of them showed obvious relief of cough after 2 weeks of therapy, a response rate similar to that of 85.0% (17/20) in patients with chronic cough receiving the treatment (χ(2)=0.588, P=0.443). In patients with subacute cough, those with cough variant asthma (CVA) or eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) had a significantly higher median FENO level than those with postinfectious cough [(16 (11-31) ppb vs 11 (8-19) ppb, P<0.01]. In the etiological analysis, CVA or EB was identified in 23 (44.2%) of the patients with subacute cough, as compared 21 (43.8%) in patients with chronic cough (χ(2)=0.002, P=0.961).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FENO may be an important indicator for etiological diagnosis of subacute cough and for predicting the response to ICS treatment.</p>

Activation of PPAR-γ inhibits differentiation of rat osteoblasts by reducing expression of connective tissue growth factor / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Long-term treatment with an agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ is associated with bone fractures in the clinical practice. However, the mechanisms underlying the fractures are not fully understood. This study was aimed to examine the effect of rosiglitazone (an agonist of PPAR-γ) of different doses on the proliferation, differentiation, and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in primary rat osteoblasts in vitro. Osteoblasts were isolated from newly born SD rats and treated with different doses of rosiglitazone (0-20 μmol/L). The proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts were measured by MTT assay and NPP assay, respectively. The expression of CTGF was determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that most isolated osteoblasts displayed strong alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and treatment with different doses of rosiglitazone did not affect their proliferation, but significantly inhibited the differentiation of osteoblasts in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, treatment with different doses of rosiglitazone significantly reduced the TGF-β1-induced CTGF mRNA transcription and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner in rat osteoblasts. It was concluded that the activation of PPAR-γ may inhibit the differentiation of osteoblasts by reducing the TGF-β1-induced CTGF expression in vitro.

Activation of PPAR-γ inhibits differentiation of rat osteoblasts by reducing expression of connective tissue growth factor / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Long-term treatment with an agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ is associated with bone fractures in the clinical practice. However, the mechanisms underlying the fractures are not fully understood. This study was aimed to examine the effect of rosiglitazone (an agonist of PPAR-γ) of different doses on the proliferation, differentiation, and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in primary rat osteoblasts in vitro. Osteoblasts were isolated from newly born SD rats and treated with different doses of rosiglitazone (0-20 μmol/L). The proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts were measured by MTT assay and NPP assay, respectively. The expression of CTGF was determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that most isolated osteoblasts displayed strong alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and treatment with different doses of rosiglitazone did not affect their proliferation, but significantly inhibited the differentiation of osteoblasts in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, treatment with different doses of rosiglitazone significantly reduced the TGF-β1-induced CTGF mRNA transcription and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner in rat osteoblasts. It was concluded that the activation of PPAR-γ may inhibit the differentiation of osteoblasts by reducing the TGF-β1-induced CTGF expression in vitro.

Expression of Six1 and Six4 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and their correlation with clinical prognosis / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Six1 and Six4 are expressed in several tumors, and associated with tumor progress and poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Six1 and Six4 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and to evaluate their correlation with the clinicopathological factors and prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tissue microarray technology and immunohistochemical method (EnVision) were used to detect the expression of Six1 and Six4 in the tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent normal epithelium of esophagus from 292 ESCC patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 292 ESCC patients, the positive rates of Six1 and Six4 protein expression in tumor tissues were 72.9% (213/292) and 56.2% (164/292), respectively, significantly higher than the expression rate of 33.2% (97/292) and 32.5% (95/292) in adjacent normal epithelium of esophagus (P < 0.05). Chi square test showed that the expression of Six1 protein was related to tumor size, depth of tumor invasion and patient survival status; higher Six4 protein expression level was related to poor differentiation and increased depth of invasion. Single factor Log-rank analysis revealed that gender, TNM stage, Six1 protein expression level were related to the overall survival of ESCC patients (P < 0.05), while the five-year survival rate was significantly higher in the Six1-negative group than the Six1-positive group [51.9% (41/79) vs. 43.7% (93/213)]. Multi-factor Cox proportional risk model analysis showed that TNM stage and positive expression of Six1 were independent prognostic factors for ESCC patients (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Six1 and Six4 are highly expressed in ESCC. Their expression levels are closely related to the progress and prognosis of ESCC. Over-expression of Six1 is related to poor prognosis in ESCC patients. Thus, Six1 could be used as an important prognostic indicator for ESCC patients.</p>

Application of flexirigid thoracoscopy in the diagnosis of pleural disease with unknown etiology / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of flexirigid thoracoscopy for pleural diseases and the patients' compliance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-seven patients with pleural effusion and thickening of unknown etiology underwent examinations with flexirigid thoracoscopy with subsequent pathological examination, and the diagnostic accuracy and the patients' compliance were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thoracoscopy identified lesions in the pleural and/or diaphragm in 42 patients and no lesions in 5 patients. Malignancy was confirmed in 21 (44.7%), tuberculosis in 17 (36.2%), idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome in 1 (2.1%), nocardiasis in 1 (2.1%), constrictive pericarditis in 1 (2.1%), chronic empyema in 2 (4.3%), splenic artery embolization in 1 (2.1%), and negative result in 3 (6.4%) of the cases. The diagnostic accuracy rate of flexirigid thoracoscopy reached 93.6%, and no serious complications in relation to the examination was found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Flexirigid thoracoscopy is efficient and relatively safe for diagnosis of pleural diseases with or without hydrothorax.</p>